Balmy beginning for Year of the Snake

S.F. CHINESE NEW YEAR

Updated 10:30 pm, Saturday, February 23, 2013

Kasandra Luna dressed as a Noble Woman as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes its way through downtown San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Kasandra Luna dressed as a Noble Woman as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes its way through downtown San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Rocky Lam, who said he was dressed as Cai Shen, the God of Fortune, takes a break as he waits for the Chinese New Year Parade to begin in San Francisco.

Rocky Lam, who said he was dressed as Cai Shen, the God of Fortune, takes a break as he waits for the Chinese New Year Parade to begin in San Francisco.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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A student form West Portola Elementary School make their way down the street during the Chinese New Year parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

A student form West Portola Elementary School make their way down the street during the Chinese New Year parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Parade participants rest near Union Square during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Parade participants rest near Union Square during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Parade participants make their way down the parade route during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Parade participants make their way down the parade route during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Students form Washington High School stand at attention near Union Square as they make their way down the parade route during Chinese new Year held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Students form Washington High School stand at attention near Union Square as they make their way down the parade route during Chinese new Year held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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The West Portal Elementary School Lion Dancers entertain the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

The West Portal Elementary School Lion Dancers entertain the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Fireworks are set off near Union Square during the Chinese New Year Parade held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Fireworks are set off near Union Square during the Chinese New Year Parade held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Parade-goers react to the festivities on Market St. during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Parade-goers react to the festivities on Market St. during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Parade-goers react as a dragon makes its way through the parade route during the Chinese new Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Parade-goers react as a dragon makes its way through the parade route during the Chinese new Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Fireworks are set off near Union Square during the Chinese New Year Parade held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Fireworks are set off near Union Square during the Chinese New Year Parade held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Calvin Ku dressed as a Terra Cotta Warriors to promote the Asian Art Museum strikes a pose as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Calvin Ku dressed as a Terra Cotta Warriors to promote the Asian Art Museum strikes a pose as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Smiles from the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Smiles from the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Children move along as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Children move along as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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The West Coast Lion Dance Troupe entertains the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

The West Coast Lion Dance Troupe entertains the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Chinese characters along the route as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Chinese characters along the route as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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The West Coast Lion Dance Troupe entertains the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

The West Coast Lion Dance Troupe entertains the crowd as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Parade-goers react as a dragon makes its way through the parade route during the Chinese new Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Parade-goers react as a dragon makes its way through the parade route during the Chinese new Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Alex Ngo of West Portal Elementary School relaxes before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23. He and his classmates walked the whole parade route in stilts.

Alex Ngo of West Portal Elementary School relaxes before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23. He and his classmates walked the whole parade route in stilts.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Danya Hoban of Yurba Linda High School practices her routine before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Danya Hoban of Yurba Linda High School practices her routine before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Parade participants pass Kearny St. during the Chinese New Year Parade held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Parade participants pass Kearny St. during the Chinese New Year Parade held on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Kasandra Luna of West Portal Elementary school gets her make up done by Jacquelyn McDonald before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Kasandra Luna of West Portal Elementary school gets her make up done by Jacquelyn McDonald before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Parade-goers react to the festivities on Market St. during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Parade-goers react to the festivities on Market St. during the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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The White Crane School in San Francisco displays their dragon up Powell Street as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

The White Crane School in San Francisco displays their dragon up Powell Street as San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade makes it's way through downtown on Saturday Feb. 23, 2013.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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The final dragon of the Chinese New Year Parade makes its way down Powell St. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

The final dragon of the Chinese New Year Parade makes its way down Powell St. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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The final dragon of the Chinese New Year Parade makes its way down Powell St. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

The final dragon of the Chinese New Year Parade makes its way down Powell St. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan / The Chronicle

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Danya Hoban of Yorba Linda High School practices her routine before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Danya Hoban of Yorba Linda High School practices her routine before participating in the Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Balmy beginning for Year of the Snake

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Rain may be good luck in Chinese culture, but clear skies and balmy temperatures were welcome weather for the tens of thousands who lined San Francisco streets Saturday for the Chinese New Year Parade.

The Year of the Snake officially began Feb. 10, but the evening parade featuring Chinese lion dancers, extravagant floats and a 258-foot dragon carried by more than 100 people marked the end of the two-week-long celebration.

"This parade is a culmination of all the festivities," said Johnny Kuo of San Francisco, who brought his young son, Max, to the parade for the first time, thanks to the nice weather. "It's celebrating the new beginning."

The constant pop of firecrackers and the gong-banging by parade marchers were enough to make Jeff Chin of Walnut Creek wince. The 86-year-old said he's been coming to the parade since he was 6.

"It was a little quieter back then," Chin said. "As you get older, it gets harder to tolerate the noise, but I like the crowds."

The parade originated in the 1860s when the Chinese community in San Francisco sought to play a larger role in the city after the Gold Rush. Now one of the largest parades in the country, organizers say more than 3 million people tune in on TV to watch it.

"It's the biggest time of the year," said Caroline Cheung of Belmont. "It's a new year for the Chinese people."

Cheung was at the parade for a second time. In Chinese tradition, those born in the Year of the Snake are said to be deep, rather quiet and wise.

Those are exactly the traits Cheung hopes her baby, due in July, will have.

"Every animal has different characteristics, the serpent is determined and hates to fail," said Cheung, 31. "A lot of Chinese parents want the dragon baby, that's supposed to be the most competitive animal, but we'll take the snake."

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